Two children suffered burns after someone poured pool chemicals down three slides at a playground in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, over the weekend.
The Longmeadow Fire Department said that around 9:40 a.m. Sunday, an unknown hazardous material was found on the playground structure at Bliss Park. Massachusetts State Police, Longmeadow Police and Fire, as well as the local department of public works responded to conduct an investigation.
The playground was closed until further notice.
Firefighters released new information Monday afternoon, saying two children had suffered “burn-like injuries” after leaving the park. Fire officials determined the material was acidic in nature and said it had been spilled on three of the playground’s slides.
An investigation determined that the pump room in the basement of the pool building on the playground had been broken into. Two fences had been climbed and a ventilation shaft cover had been torn off.
“The perpetrators entered the room through the ventilation shaft. This room is where the chemicals used to operate the pool are stored,” the fire department said in its statement. “The Haz-Mat team determined that one of these chemicals was spilled on the slides. This chemical was determined to be muriatic acid. The Mass State Police crime lab collected various items of evidence. Additional evidence was collected and sent to the crime laboratory for forensic analysis and fingerprints”.
The pool chemicals were properly stored in a secure area, and firefighters said “great effort” was made to get them into the space. Investigators said they believe the suspects may have suffered acid burns to their hands or arms and their clothing may have degraded from contact with the acid.
Once the cleanup is complete, it will be determined if it is safe to reopen the playground. Until then, the playground will remain fenced off as a precaution.
“As of now, all hazardous materials have been cleaned up and removed,” firefighters said. “The rest of the park is open.”
Anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity on Saturday night in or around the park or who knows someone with new burns on their hands or arms or clothing burned is asked to call Longmeadow Police at 413-565- 4199.
